I will explain why I ask later, but what exactly is a rat rod to you?

-Brandon

A "whatever" model, brand, condition, that has a bunch of performance goodies for go fast-forward thrown at it (usually an engine, maybe a rear end, and possibly a transmission) with no regard to any other qualities of the condition of rest of the vehicle.

Fantastic

I have the crappiest looking saturn ever but it's mechanically sound. I also happen to have a complete turbo set-up for a saturn as well

I've been thinking of combining these two for a little while into a nice sleeper.

For some reason I think of flat black primer and red steel wheels and a V8 when I hear rat rod.

quote Originally posted by cooguyfish: I will explain why I ask later, but what exactly is a rat rod to you? -Brandon

If it has a stuffed rat sitting on it, it's a rat rod.

By oldlar at 2011-05-21


Rat rods seem to be unrestored cars of any vintage that have a good running gear. The photo is one that was on the Power Tour and was one in rather nice body condition. Some I have seen the bodies that are rust buckets.

quote Originally posted by Red88FF: For some reason I think of flat black primer and red steel wheels and a V8 when I hear rat rod.

Flat black was on my list

I thought about painted wheels, but I am using aluminum wheels and I think painting those looks to cheesy


The official plan is to use my saturn, turbo it, put a side exit exhaust on it (it needs a need one anyways so...) white lettered tires (I have them, OR white walls if I can find them). Paint it flat black, maybe do some kind of graphics on it. Stuff like that

Hot rods, in the distant past, were home-built, stripped down, innovative, generally cobbled together by shade tree mechanics from junkyard parts; and were never finished. Rat rods are a misguided attempt to emulate that past, or just an excuse to not paint your car.

Regardless, I love the way a flat gray or red primer 'rod looks with good pinstriping.

This is a rat rod.


This isn't.


Rat rod means more than "make your car look like ass."

quote Originally a counter-reaction to the high priced "customs" and typical hot rods, many of which seldom were driven, the rat rod's beginning was a throwback to the hot rods of the earlier days of hot-rodding, built to the best of the owner's abilities and meant to be driven. Rat rods are meant to loosely imitate in form and function the "traditional" hot rods of the era. Biker, greaser, rockabilly, psychobilly, and punk cultures are often credited as influences that shaped rat rodding. The typical rat rod is a late 1920s through late 1950s coupe or roadster. Early (pre-World War II) vehicles often have their fenders, hoods, running boards, and bumpers removed. The bodies are frequently channeled over the frame, and sectioned, or the roofs chopped for a lower profile. Later post-war vehicles are rarely constructed without fenders and are often customized in the fashion of Kustoms, leadsleds, and lowriders. Maltese crosses, skulls, and other accessories are often added. Chopped tops, shaved trim, grills, tail lights, and other miscellaneous body parts are swapped between makes and models. Most, if not all, of the work and engineering is done by the owner of the vehicle.

Rat Rod's are just a style. Some people try to categorize them in to something they are not.

Here is a great example of a Rat Rod:

Click to show

Rat Rod's general refer to classic cars, (a lot of Model A and T's) but I have seen classic bugs in Rat Rod style and even big 50's and 60's cars. I thing the biggest defining thing is the "Patina" of the original paint subjected to 80 years of sun. A lot of people now-a-days use faux patina to replicate the effect.

Like I said, Rat Rod's are just a style, similar to people putting flames on a rod or Kandy paint and big rims, or even wide-body fiero's with gaudy chome wheels and Lambo doors.

Oops I forgot to mention Rat Fink is a huge influence on this style.

[This message has been edited by BlackEmrald (edited 05-08-2012).]

quote Originally posted by cooguyfish: Fantastic I have the crappiest looking saturn ever but it's mechanically sound. I also happen to have a complete turbo set-up for a saturn as well I've been thinking of combining these two for a little while into a nice sleeper.

Sleepers don't equal to rat rods at all lol. Do you have the 2.2L eco? That'd be a nice 220hp ride.

I'm rocking a 3800sc powered fully bolted/ smaller pulley/ rockers/ tuned grand prix (base model SE with GT bumpers), and no one expects it. Everyone that I take for a ride is and everyone that I've raced has been no matter what the car haha. Its kind of fun trolling on everyone, but this platform is boring as hell. (FWD/Auto/crap handling).

Rat rods are pretty damn cool, the whole cobbled together and bare bones look is awesome

This:

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

quote Originally posted by nitroheadz28: Sleepers don't equal to rat rods at all lol. Do you have the 2.2L eco? That'd be a nice 220hp ride. I'm rocking a 3800sc powered fully bolted/ smaller pulley/ rockers/ tuned grand prix (base model SE with GT bumpers), and no one expects it. Everyone that I take for a ride is and everyone that I've raced has been no matter what the car haha. Its kind of fun trolling on everyone, but this platform is boring as hell. (FWD/Auto/crap handling). Rat rods are pretty damn cool, the whole cobbled together and bare bones look is awesome

well, I am ok with just calling it a sleeper.

Or I could strip all the body work off as well and make it a frame that drives. I thought about going mad max style and stuff also. but either way, the important thing is that it will be a saturn, and it will be fast, and people won't expect it.

Call it a sleeper.

A Rat Rod is typically an antique vehicle that is pieced together from parts that would not be typically seen together.

Examples have already been posted, but I'm fairly certain your Saturn couldn't be a Rat Rod. Sorry man.

Brad

To me, a rat rod is a car that's been pieced together to keep it on the road because the owner really couldn't afford to fix it properly. It's a car that may, or may not, be rusting out and be a complete cosmetic pile-o-**** , but is mechanically sound through innovative maintenance.

Here are some more seen at Hot August Nights last year. I'll get more this year:

This one is almost too nice to be called a rat rod but it does have red rims:



This one is more like it:



A set-back on the frame is essential:

[This message has been edited by spark1 (edited 05-09-2012).]

a real hot rod owner not shop built

To ME, it has to be a pre WW II car/truck, homebuilt out of parts from misc parts from other cars. They dont bother with fancy paint or upholstery...just bare minimum to be road worthy.

Harley Davidson of the auto world..

Loud, underpowered, style and performance has not been updated since 1949.
(Yes you/they can drop in an LTZ/LT1 etc.. but mating to skinny bias ply whitewalls.. it's a smoke machine) I won't even discuss what they call suspension on these things.

If that's your thing have at it, just not my thing.